Method and mechanism for cape cutting and feeding



A ril 9, '1963 METHOD AND Filed Nov. 3, 1959 B. J 'ARONS'ON 3,084,839

MECHANISM FOR CAPE CUTTING AND FEEDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1;? 2/8 rcifoy 9WQrcarze or? April 1963 B. J. ARONSON 3,084,839

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR CAPE CUTTING AND FEEDING Filed Nov. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ira/971216!- 9r: arortsoft April 1963 B. J. ARONSON 3,084,839

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR CAPE CUTTING AND FEEDING Filed Nov. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheef-S e -ci' Ber-2 @v'orasorz @COJrce April 9 1963 B. J. ARONSON 3,084,839

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR CAPE CUTTING AND FEEDING Filed Nov. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 75 Q8 I 33 105 9 H I. I I

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United States Patent Ofiice 3,'84,839 Patented Apr. 9, 1953 3,084,839 METHGD AND MECHANISM FGR CAPE CUTTENG AND FEEDING Ben J. Aronson, deceased, Hate of Skolrie, IlL, by Ann Aronson, administratrix, Slrokie, llt, assignor of 4.75

percent to Howard Aronson and 4.75 percent to Gary Aronson Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,560 16 lain1s. (Cl. 225-2) The present invention relates to a cape cutting and feeding mechanism, particularly of the character adaptable for cutting paper capes for use in covering wire garment hangers. More particularly, the invention finds useful application in that type of apparatus for covering wire garment hangers of the character disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,896,383, issued July 28, 1959, on the application of the present inventor.

In the operation of automatic caping machines, the cutting of the paper with an irreducible minimum of waste is a goal to be achieved. Because standard hangers all conform to a generally similar dimensional configuration in which the shoulder rods of the hangers intercept the axis of the tie rod or lower rod of the hanger at approximately 30, the capes are advantageously cut in the shape of a diamond. In connection with the use of automatic machinery, a recessed portion of the dia mend-shaped cape blank fits around the hook portion of the hanger. When paper is fed in the form of a continuous web from a roll of paper, by cutting a single diagonal line with a recessed cut, and then trimming the ends of the precu-t member, the Waste can be cut to less than five percent of the total amount of paper fed into the cutting assembly. In the event such a single line out is made, however, in order to feed the cape into an assembly machine of the character disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,896,383, the path of travel of the precut cape blank must be altered to angle of some 60. It is with the development of the precut configuration of the instant cape blank, the transferring thereof from one axis of travel to an axis of travel intended for alinement with the covering machine, and the completion of cut as well as transfer to the covering machine in pre cise timed and registered relationship with the Work stations on the covering machine that the present invention relates.

Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a cape cutting and feeding mechanism which feeds from a continuous web of paper with an irreductible minimum of waste.

Another object of the present invention is to furnish a cape cutting and feeding mechanism which is simple in operation, and unusually durable and resistant to breakdowns and maintenance requirements.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cape cutting and feeding mechanism which is readily susceptible of combined and correlated operation with a single or two color printing press in order that the capes may be printed with the name, insignia, and advertising slogans of the intended purchaser.

A further object of the cape cutting and feeding mechanism of the present invention is to so orient the web of paper and its various operations that its inspection and constant supervision can be conducted by a single operator, and complex electrical and similar warning devices are rendered unnecessary by virtue of its open design.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cape cutting and feeding mechanism which is susceptible of high-speed operation in the order of four thousand to six thousand printed and precut capes per hour in order to feed simultaneously to a hanger covering machine operating at a similar rate.

Still another and more detailed object of the invention is to provide a cape cutting and feeding mechanism, the small amount of waste paper of which is readily susceptible of diversion at a point in its movement of travel which does not interfere with the associated hanger covering machine, and which permits the removal of waste in such a manner that the probability of waste clogging the operative portion of the feeding mechanism is reduced to a minimum.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus for covering wire garment hangers of the character with which the present cape cutting and feeding mechanism is employed, the cape cutting and feeding mechanism being shown somewhat diagrammatically in the right hand portion thereof.

FIG. 2. is a perspective elevation of the cape cutting and feeding mechanism showing the roll and diagrammatically showing the web as it passes through the various stations to and including its cutting and transfer toward the feeding and transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a top view, partially diagrammatic, of the paper roll and web as illustrated in FIG. 2. showing the structure which completes the cutting of the web.

FIG. 4 is a perspective partially exploded View of a cape of the character contemplated by the present invention showing its relationship with the wire garment hanger.

FIG. 5 is a partially diagrammatic, partially sectioned, front elevation of the printing press portion of the feeding mechanism taken generally along section line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partially diagrammatic perspective view of the cutting roller and the associated feed and power rollers which power the web from the storage roller to the printing press and to the cutting mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective partially diagrammatic view illustrating the separating cam assembly and the power rolls which transfer the cape from the cutting rollers to the separating rollers.

FIG. 8 is a perspective partially diagrammatic view of the transfer elbow portion of the cape cutting and feeding mechanism illustrating the transfer drum and slitting elements.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the transfer elbow corner of the feeding mechanism illustrating the transfer rollers and transfer drum which are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation, partially diagrammatic, showing the path of the web as it passes from the printing press portion of the feeding mechanism through the cutting roller and separating cams.

FIG. 11 is a partially broken, partially diagrammatic front elevation of the transfer drum and stripper belt illustrating the final stage of the transfer of the cut cape to the hanger covering mechanism.

While it will be appreciated that other usages of the subject Cape Cutting and Feeding Mechanism will operate satisfactorily and with excellent results, it is one of the principal commercial functions of the subject Cape Cutting and Feeding Mechanism to serve to deliver a completely cut, and printed if desired, garment hanger cape to a covering machine of the character disclosed and described in Aronson patent application No. 2,896,- 383, issued July 28, 1959. By referring to FIG. 1, the

general environment in which the subject invention is employed will be better appreciated. Then it will be seen that the hanger covering machine ill contemplates a large rotary frame 11 having a plurality of peripheral work stations 12 and several spire-like supports 1 which terminate centrally at a hub 15. Each of the work stations 12 has a flat or stationary platen '16 and a movable or rotating platen 18. The movable platen 18 is activated by means of the gear mechanism 19 which in turn is powered by means of a cam-follower arm 20, which takes its main drive from the stationary control cam 21. The hangers are fed to the hanger covering machine by means of the hanger delivery assembly 22 which delivers the garment hangers 25 along a spiral delivery shaft 24 to an inverter (not shown) which finally brings the hangers out into position to be transferred onto the work stations 12 where the garment hangers 25 are eld by means of magnets and other structures thereon shown in greater detail in the above mentioned United States Patent No. 2,896,383.

The cape blanks 30 are delivered to the work stations 12 at the right hand side of the structure shown in FIG. 1 by means of the transfer drum 26 and stripper belt 2? a vacuum supplied to each of the work stations 12 by means of the vacuum lines 29 overcomes the vacuum of the transfer drum 26, which is shut off in timed relation to the juxtaposition of the cape blanks 30 adjacent the work stations 12.

After the cape blanks 34) have been suitably positioned upon the work stations 12, against the stationary and movable platens T6, 18, the cape blank 30 passes by the gluing station 31 where glue is sprayed from the nozzles 32 onto the cape blanks 3th in a pattern which, because of the subsequent folding of the cape blank, permits the complete caping of the garment hanger 25 in the course of approximately one-half a revolution of the rotary frame 11, whereupon the hangers are picked up by the hanger stripper arm 34 and delivered to the hanger discharge assembly 35. A helically cut rotating collector rod 36 carries and stacks the caped hangers on the hanger discharge assembly 35 until the operator grabs the caped hangers, weighs them for count, and packs and bundles them for shipment to the customer. The hanger caping machine has a drive motor (not shown) and a vacuum pump 38 which supplies the vacuum to the work stations 12, and which may be also employed to supply the vacuum elsewhere in the construction including the transfer drurn 2s and waste collecting elements.

The initial stage of the cape cutting and feeding mechanism 40 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. There it will be seen that a roll of cape paper 38, is secured between a pair of support plates 39 and journaled to the support plates by means of bearing support 41 so that a web 42 may be continuously drawn off of the cape paper roll 38. A friction brake 4-4 which advantageously is formed from a band anchored at brake anchor 45 and tensioned at its other end by means of brake tensioning means 46 so that a variable friction can be applied against the brake drum 48.

The web 42 is fed downwardly over an idler roller 49 and then leaves the cape paper roll support into an intermediate idler assembly 59 and it is therein reeved about a pair of idlers 51. The intermediate idlers serve to smooth out uneven effort and inconsistencies in motion of the cape paper roll 38 in its support and to a degree cooperate with the idler 49 in this regard. Thereafter the web enters the printing station 52 where it moves over the first printing roller 54- and then extends upwardly over the top pair of printing rollers 55 and 56. The printing is accomplished by placing a water-soluble ink in the ink pan 58 into which the ink roller 59 extends and rotates constantly. The ink .roller is of the conventional character having a metal surface which picks up ink and transfers it to a driven rubber printing roller 69 in the manner of the offset printing process. Thereafter the d web 42 extends downwardly into the lower printing assembly idlers 61 and 62. Thereafter the web leaves the printing station 52.

The web enters the cutting station 65 in an upward path from the printing station 52 and comes over the cutting station initial idler 64 (see FIG. 6). Thereafter the web 42 is reeved around a pair of counter-rotating drive rollers, the upper cutting station drive roller -66 being advantageously formed of rubber or an equivalent frictional material, and the lower cutting station drive roller 63 being formed of smooth steel. Both the rubber and steel drive rollers, 66, 68 are driven by a power means 69 in timed relation to the main drive of the hanger covering machine 10. After the web passes over the drive rollers 66, 68 it passes beneath the pre-cutter idling roller 71 and then proceeds to the interacting area between the cutting roller and its mating cutting base roller 72. The cutting roller 70 has an upwardly extending cutting edge 74 which is formed in the shape of a helix throughout the bulk of its length with the exception of the hook cutout portion 75. The helical portion of the cutting edge 74 is coordinated and drivingly engages the web 42 so as to cut the cape straight edge 76 and the hook recess 78 thereby mashing the cut edge 76 and pattern for the hook recess 78 so that when the cape blank 39 is pulled away from the web, a configuration such as that shown in FIG. 6 develops where the hook recess waste tab 79 extends from one corner of the pre-formed cape blank 39 and a corner waste tab 81 extends from the opposite corner. The successive relationship between the pre-cut cape blanks 3% is best illustrated in FIG. 9. It will be appreciated, that after the mashing of the parting line has been completed by the action of the cutting edge 74 engaging the steel smooth hardened cutting base roller 72, an action in the nature of a pulling of the fartherest pre-cut or preformed blank from the web must take place.

Referring now to FIG. 7 it will be seen that the web after passing through the cutting roller 70 then passes into a holding drive roll assembly The holding drive roll assembly 80 contemplates two adjacent pairs of knurled rollers, the knurling being advantageously formed on the face of hardened steel. The bottom of the knurled rollers, 84, 36, are driven in timed relation to the remainder of the drive for feeding the web. It will be appreciated that the upper rollers, being permitted to float and thereby assert their gravity weight on the web and driven lower rollers 84, 86, will assert a sufficient braking action on the web 42, so that a rapid acceleration imparted to that portion of the web extending sequentially downstream from the holding drive roll assembly 80 will part the cape blank 30 from the remainder of the web as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The cape blank parting station 88 contemplates upper cammed rollers 39 having extending cams 9%}, the cams or cam lobes engaging cam rollers 91 located immediately therebeneath, and formed of a smooth or knurled hardened steel or like material. The cam rollers 89 of the cape parting station 88 are driven in such a manner so that the face of the cam lobe 99 against the cam roller 91 operates at a peripheral speed slightly in excess of that of the web 42 after it passes through the holding drive roll assembly 80 so that a parting action takes place such as illustrated in FIG. 9 where successive cape blanks 3%} are formed at the cape partingstation 88. It will be noted that an aluminum support plate 92 is positioned beneath the travel of the web after leaving the holding drive roll assembly 80, the purpose being to support the paper during changes in speed of movement and generally to guide the same through the cutting station. While aluminum has been employed successfully, any supporting material which does not assist in the development of a static charge will prove satisfactory for this purpose.

The cape blank 30 after passing through the cape blank parting station 88, is then ready to have the hook recess Waste tab 79 and corner waste tab 81 removed, and further to have its direction changed in order that the long axis of the cape blank 30 be alined to abut the hanger 25 as it enters the hanger caping machine 10. This two fold action is accomplished by cape blank slitting and diverting stations 92. A pair of cam rollers 94 similar in design to cam rollers 89 which are employed in the cape parting station 88 are provided at the cape blank slitting and diverting station and cooperate with smooth hardened rollers 95 which are placed therebeneath. The transfer cam lobes 96 engaging the hardened cam rollers 95 therebeneath in timed relation to the delivery of a cape blank 30 from the cape parting station 88 so that, as illustrated in FIG. 9 the direction of travel of the cape blank 30 is diverted toward the transfer drum 26. Mounted coaxially with the cams of the cape blank slitting and diverting station 92 are the slitting rollers 98 which are upper and lower mating pairs of slitting rollers having meshing sharpened edges in order that the hook recess waste tab 79 and corner waste tab 81 may be cut therefrom prior to moving on to the transfer drum 2 6 for transferral to the caping machine it]. Waste paper diverting chutes 99 are provided in flanking relationship With the'cutting rollers 93 so that the hook recess waste tab 7% and corner waste tabs 81 will be carried away to a convenient waste container prior to the cape blank 30 extending forwardly for its final transfer by means of the transfer drum 26.

The transfer assembly 100 is best illustrated in FIG. 11. There it will be seen that the transfer drum 26 is positioned for a tangential relationship to the cape blank 30 after it leaves the cape blank slitting and diverting station 92. A plurality of transfer drum idler rollers 101 are secured to a single transfer drum idler roller shaft 102 which in turn is secured to arms Hi4 swivelably mounted at their ends 165 to a support block 1636.

The transfer drum 26 is provided with an internal piping system 108 to supply a vacuum in timed relation to the rotation of the transfer drum 26 to the transfer drum vacuum ports 109, 110. The forwardly oriented and centrally positioned vacuum port 109 grasps the forward portion of the cape as it passes through the idlers 101 and comes on to the transfer drum 26, the flanking ports 110 serving to grasp the ends of the pre-cut blank 30 adjacent the cutoff lines where the Waste portions have been removed.

As the transfer drum 26 continues to rotate, the vacuum is released by a vacuum release assembly 111, and thereafter the stripper belt 28 peels the blank 30 away from the face of the transfer drum 26 and positions it in timed relation to the passage of the adjacent work station 12 of the caping machine, whereupon the vacuum supplied to the platens 16, 18 of the work station 12 are sufficient to cause the cape to migrate from its orientation adjacent the transfer drum 26 into a registered position on the work station 12 for subsequent gluing and engagement with the hanger 25.

7 It will be apprecated that a wide variety of timing mechanisms may be employed in connection with the subject cape cutting and feeding mechanism in order to insure that all of the stations operate in timed and synchronous relationship with the basic hanger covering machine inasmuch as it is the ultimate function of the cape cutting and feeding mechanism 40 to deliver a cape blank 30 exactly in register on the work station 12. In a successful commercial embodiment, timing is accomplished by means of solid drive shafts and gear drives,

or alternatively by means of chain drives.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements and techniques are but illustrative of the application of the principle of the invention. Numerous other arrangements and procedures can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of cutting a blank having a generally diamond shape with long and short diagonals, a hook recess at one end of the short diagonal, and truncated ends terminating the long diagonal, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous web of cape material, diagonally cutting said web with a straight edge diagonal cut having a hanger hook recess at the end thereof, separating the individual cape blanks from the web by advancing each cape blank at a speed greater than the web, changing the direction of travel of the cape blank from that of the web to a direction coaxial with that of the short diagonal, and removing the two ends of the long diagonal while the completed blank is advanced along its short diagonal axis.

2. The method of cutting a wire garment hanger cape blank having a generally diamond shape with long and short diagonals, a hook recess at one end of the short diagonal, and truncated ends on the long diagonal, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous web of cape material, diagonally mashingly weakening said web with a straight edge diagonal having a hanger hook recess at the end thereof, separating the individual cape blanks from the web by advancing each cape blank at a speed greater than the web whereby the cape is separated from the web along the weakened line, changing the direction of travel of the cape blank from that of the web to a direction coaxial with that of the short diagonal, and slitting the two ends of the long diagonal while the completed blank is advanced along its short diagonal axis and ready for folding and fixing to a wire garment hanger.

3. The method of producing a wire garment hanger cape blank having a generally diamond shape with long and short diagonals, a hook recess at one end of the short diagonal, and truncated ends of the long diagonal, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous web of cape material through a printer, feeding to a cutter, diagonally deforming said web with a straight edge deformed diagonal having a hanger hook recess at the end thereof, separating the individual cape blanks from the web by advancing each cape blank at a speed greater than the web whereby the cape parts along the deformed diagonal, changing the direction of travel of the cape blank from that of the web to a direction coaxial with that of the short diagonal, and removing the two ends of the long diagonal while the completed blank is advanced along its short diagonal and ready for folding and fixing to a wire garment hanger.

4. The method of cutting a blank having a generally diamond shape with long and short diagonals, a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal, and truncated ends of the long diagonal comprising the steps of feeding a continuous web of cape material, diagonally cutting said web with a straight edge diagonal cut having a hanger hook recess at the end thereof, changing the direction of travel of the cape blank from that of the web to a direction coaxial with that of the short diagonal, and cutting the two ends of the long diagonal while the completed blank is advanced along its short diagonal axis.

5. Mechanism for cutting a garment hanger cape from a continuous web of material, said cape having a gen erally diamond configuration with long and short diagognals and with a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal and truncated ends on the long diagonal comprising, cutting means for cutting spaced diagonals along the web with the hook recess at one end of each spaced diagonal, means diverting the travel of each cape after cutting to a second path of travel coaxial with the short diagonal, and slitting means in spaced relation to the second path of travel to cut off the ends of the long diagonal.

6. Mechanism for cutting a garment hanger cape from a continuous web of material, said cape having a generally diamond configuration with long and short diagonais and with a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal and truncated ends on the long-diagonal comprising, cutting means for cutting spaced diagonals along the web with the hook recess at one end of each spaced diagonal, means diverting the travel of each cape after cutting to a transfer path of travel coaxial with the short diagonal, and slitting means in spaced flanking relation to the transfer path of travel to cut off the ends of the long diagonal.

7. Mechanism for cutting a garment hanger cape from a continuous web of material, said cape having a gen erally diamond configuration with long and short diagonals and with a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal and truncated ends on the long diagonal comprising, cutting means for cutting spaced diagonals along the web with the hook recess at one end of each spaced diagonal, means for separating the cut portion by accelerating its forward motion, means diverting the travel of each cape after cutting to a transfer path of travel coaxial with the short diagonal, and slitting means in spaced relation to the transfer path of travel to cut off the ends of the long diagonal.

8. Mechanism for producing a garment hanger cape from a continuous web of material, said cape having a generally diamond configuration with long and short diagonals and with a hook reecss at one end of a short diagonal and truncated ends on the long diagonal comprising, cutting means for cutting spaced diagonals along the web with the hook recess at one end of each spaced diagonal, means for diverting the travel of each cape after cutting to a transfer path of travel coaxial with the short diagonal, and slitting means in spaced relation to the transfer path of travel to cut off the ends of the long diagonal, a transfer drum to which the cape blank is conformed after cutting, and stripper means for stripping the iape from the drum in timed relation to the proximity of an associated garment hanger cape folding and securing apparatus.

9. A cape cutting and feeding mechanism for conventing a web to a garment hanger cape blank having a generally diamond shape with a short and long diagonal, comprising, in combination, a roll support for delivering a web, a continuous feed printer through which the paper web is drawn, a cutting mechanism at a first station, said cutting mechanism having a roll-er with a single diagonal edge knife helically oriented thereon, a knife abutting roll in contact with the knife, means drivingly advancing the web through the cutting mechanism, a parting mechanism at a second station, means accelcrating the speed of the Web to part the same into first stage cape blanks by advancing that portion of the web which has been worked by the knife, direction switching means to realign the cape for movement along its short diagonal, a slitting mechanism at another station, means on the slitting mechanism for cutting the ends off the first stage cape blank, and transfer means for delivering the cape to a hanger covering machine.

10. A cape cutting and feeding mechanism for con verting a rolled paper web to a garment hanger cape blank having a generally diamond shape with a short and long diagonal, a hook recess at one end of the short diagonal, and truncated ends of the long diagonal comprising, in combination, a paper roll support, a continuous feed printer through which the paper web is drawn, a cutting mechanism at a station, said cutting station having a roller with a single helically wound edge knife, having a hook recess curve at one end thereof, a knife abutting roll in contact with the knife, meansdrivingly passing the web through the cutting mechanism, a parting mechanism at another station, means accelerating the speed of the web to part the same into first stage cape blanks by advancing that portion of the web which has been worked by the knife, direction switching means to realign the cape for movement along its short diagonal, and means adjacent the direction switclung means for cu-tting'the ends off the first stage cape blank.

11. A cape cutting and feeding mechanism for converting a roll paper web to a garment hanger cape blank having a generally diamond shape with a short and long diagonal, comprising, in combinaion, ta paper roll support, a continuous feed printer through which the paper web is drawn, a cutting mechanism at a first station, said cutting mechanism having a roller with a single diagonal edge knife, a knife abutting roll in contact with the knife, means drivingly passing the Web through the cutting mechanism, a parting mechanism at another station, means accelerating the speed of the web to part the same into first stage cape blanks by advancing that portion of the web which has been worked by the knife, direction switching means to realign the cape for movement along its short diagonal, means flanking the direction switching means for cutting the ends off the first stage cape blank, a transfer drum, and means for delivering the cape to a hanger covering machine.

12. For use with a garment hanger caping machine having a plurality of work stations oriented peripherally on a rotating spider each such work station having vacuum holding means thereon to hold a cape blank thereupon; a cape cutter and feeder for converting a roll of paper into preformed cape blanks, said cape blanks having a generally diamond configuration with a long and short diagonal, a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal, and truncated ends in the long diagonal, comprising, in combination, support means for a paper roll permitting a web of paper to be withdrawn therefrom, roller drive means for pulling the web from the roller and advancing the same, a cutting roll, cutting means extending from said cutting roll, a cutting edge working roll engaged by said cutting means as the web passes therebetween, drive rolls engaging said web after passing through the cutting roll and advancing the web, separating means having a timed engagement with the web and at a speed greater than that of the web to part the advance portion of the web along the line formed by the cutting means thereby separating a partially cut cape blank and advancing the same, diverting rolls rotating in timed relation with the separating rolls and oriented to divert the cape blank direction of travel into alinement along an axis coaxial with the cape blank short daigonal, slitting rolls in spaced relation with the diverting rolls to slit the ends of the cape blank thereby trimming to size while the cape is advanced by the diverting rolls, a transfer drum having vacuum ports on its periphery in spaced correlation with the cape blank configuration, idler rolls in rolling contact with said transfer drum and spaced tangentially therealong to receive the cape blank from the transfer rolls and hold the same along the drum face until the vacuum ports are activated and assist in holding the cape on the drum, a stripper belt around the transfer drum and reeved through an idler positioned to form a stretch of belting approximating a mean eifective tangential relationship with the adjacent work station, and transfer drum vacuum release means activated in timed relation to the delivery of the cape to the transfer drum and the passing Work stations so that the stripper belt removes the precut cape from the transfer drum as the transfer drum vacuum is released whereupon the action of the vacuum holding means on the work station attractively influences the cape to migrate to the work station in timed relation to the passing of the Work station by the transfer drum and oriented to register on the work station.

13. For use with a garment hanger caping machine having a plurality of work stations oriented peripherally on a rotating wheel each such work station having vacuum holding means thereon to hold a cape blank thereupon; a cape cutter and feeder for converting a roll of paper into preformed cape blanks, said cape blanks having a generally diamond configuration with a long and short diagonal, a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal, and truncated ends in the long diagonal, comprising, in combination, support means for a paper roll permitting a web of paper to be withdrawn therefrom, a cutting roll, cutting means extending from said cutting roll, a cutting edge working roll engaged by said cutting means as the Web passes therebetween, separating means having a timed engagement with the web and at a speed greater than that of the web to part the advance portion of the web at the line formed by the cutting means thereby separating a partially cut cape blank and advancing the same, diverting rolls rotating in timed relation with the separating rolls and oriented to divert the cape blank direction of travel into alinement along an axis coaxial with the cape blank short diagonal, slitting rolls in spaced relation with the diverting rolls to slit the ends of the cape blank thereby trimming to size while the cape is advanced by diverting rolls, a transfer drum having vacuum ports on its periphery in spaced correlation with the cape blank configuration, idler rolls in rolling contact with said transfer drum and spaced threading to receive the cape blank from the transfer rolls and hold the same along the drum face until the vacuum ports are activated and assist in holding the cape on the drum, a stripper belt around the transfer drum and reeved through an idler positioned to form a stretch of belting approximating a mean effective tangential relationship with the adjacent work station, and transfer drum vacuum release means activated in timed relation to the delivery of the cape to the transfer drum and the passing work stations so that the stripper belt removes the precut cape from the transfer drum as the transfer drum vacuum is released whereupon the action of the vacuum holding means on the Work station attractively influences the cape to migrate to the Work station in timed relation to the passing of the work station by the transfer drum and oriented to register on the work station.

14. For use with a garment hanger eaping machine having a plurality of Work stations oriented peripherally on a rotating wheel each such Work station having vacuum holding means to hold a cape blank thereupon; a cape cutter and feeder for converting a roll of paper into preformed cape blanks, said cape blanks having a generally diamond configuration with a long and short diagonal, a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal, and truncated ends in the long diagonal; comprising, in combination, support means for a paper roll permitting a Web of paper to be withdrawn therefrom, roller drive means for pulling the web from the roller and advancing the same, a cutting roll having cutting means extending therefrom, a cutting edge working roll engaged by said cutting means as the web passes therebetween, separating means having a timed engagement with the web and at a speed greater than that of the web to part the advance portion of the Web at the line defined by the cutting means thereby separating a partially cut cape blank and advancing the same, diverting means acting in timed relation with the separating rolls and oriented to divert the cape blank direction of travel into alinement along an axis coaxial with the cape blank short diagonal, slitting rolls in spaced relation with the diverting means to slit the ends of the cape blank thereby trimming to size while the cape is advanced by the diverting rolls, a transfer drum having vacuum ports on its periphery in spaced correlation with the cape blank configuration, a stripper belt around the transfer drum and reeved through an idler positioned to form a stretch of belting approximating a mean effective tangential relationship with the adjacent work station, and transfer drum vacuum release means activated in timed relation to the delivery of the cape to the transfer drum and the passing work stations so that the stripper belt removes the precut cape from the transfer drum as the transfer drum vacuum is released whereupon the action of the vacuum holding means on the Work station attractively influences the cape to migrate to the work station in timed relation to the passing of the work station by the transfer drum and oriented to register on the work station.

15. For use with a garment hanger caping machine having a plurality of work stations oriented peripherally on a rotating wheel each such Work station having vacuum holding means to hold a cape blank thereupon; a cape cutter and feeder for converting a web into preformed cape blanks, said cape blanks having a generally diamond configuration with a long and short diagonal, a hook recess at one end of a short diagonal, and truncated ends in the long diagonal; comprising, in combination, support means for a rolled web permitting a web of material to be Withdrawn therefrom, cutting means for diagonally scoring the web with a straight edge terminating in a hook recess, parting means engaging said web after passing through the cutting means and advancing the web, diverting means Working in timed relation with the parting means and oriented to divert the cape blank direction of travel into alinement along an axis coaxial With the cape blank short diagonal, slitting means in spaced relation with the diverting means to slit the ends of the cape blank thereby trimming to size while the cape is advanced by the diverting means, a transfer drum having vacuum ports on its periphery in spaced correlation With the cape blank configuration, stripper guide means tangential to the transfer drum to form a guide approximating a mean effective tangential relationship with the adjacent work station, and transfer drum vacuum release means activated in timed relation to the delivery of the cape to the transfer drum and the passing work stations so that the stripper guide means removes the precut cape from the transfer drum as the transfer drum vacuum is released whereupon the action ofthe vacuum holding means on the work station attractively influences the cape to migrate to the work station in timed relation to the passing of the Work station by the transfer drum and oriented to register on the Work station.

16. A cape cutter and feeder in accordance with claim 15 wherein said cutting means further comprises a roller with a helically Wound edge knife having a hooked recess curve at one end thereof, and a knife abutting roll in contact with the knife during rotation thereof.

Great Britain Sept. 28, 1942 

1. THE METHOD OF CUTTING A BLANK HAVING A GENERALLY DIAMOND SHAPE WITH LONG AND SHORT DIAGONALS, A HOOK RECESS AT ONE END OF THE SHORT DIAGONAL, AND TRUNCATED ENDS TERMINATING THE LONG DIAGONAL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FEEDING A CONTINUOUS WEB OF CAPE MATERIAL, DIAGONALLY CUTTING SAID WEB WITH A STRAIGHT EDGE DIAGONAL CUT HAVING A HANGER HOOK RECESS AT THE END THEREOF, SEPARATING THE INDIVIDUAL CAPE BLANKS FROM THE WEB BY ADVANCING EACH CAPE BLANK AT A SPEED GREATER THAN THE WEB, CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE CAPE BLANK FROM THAT OF THE WEB TO A DIRECTION COAXIAL WITH THAT OF THE SHORT DIAGONAL, AND REMOVING THE TWO ENDS OF THE LONG DIAGONAL WHILE THE COMPLETED BLANK IS ADVANCED ALONG ITS SHORT DIAGONAL AXIS. 